Improved retort for preparing charcoal for rectifying spirits



wwaegggggta LJA M E s MCCANN, or sfr.` L o'U-1s,'M 1 s soURI.

' Leners Paten: No. samauataz Alm-z 27, 1869.

IMPROITED RETRT FIOR PREPARING- VCEAIIRCOAL FOR. RECTIFYING- SPIRITS,8u:-

ne Sehedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of thesame.

"To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES MCGANN, of St. Louis, in the county of St.Louis, and State of Missouri, have invented'a new and useful improvedRetort for Preparing Rectifying-Oharcoal, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact descr' ption, reference being had to the annexeddrawing, making a part of this specication, in whichi Figure lrepresents avertical sectional elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 represents a bottom view of the rod of same.

Similar letters indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to shorten and make more certain theprocess of preparing charcoal for recti'` fying-prposes;

t It is well known that by the use ofthe common retort, the ire is along time in reaching the centre of the coal, and the escape of the gasgenerated is more or less retarded bythe compactness of the coal, causedby its settling after burning for a while. 'lo stir it from the topwould only increase thisdiiiculty. I have, therefore, sought by myinvention to` improve the draught through the centre of coal, and toprevent the coal from becoming so compact as to impede the escape of thegas.

v'.Llie retort A isuiade in the usual manner, with no bottom, -and restson`A legs b b b, b b' only being seen in g. l, so that the air may havefree access. A rod of iron, O, terminating in `radial arms l 5, iig. 1,and l, 2, 3,&c.,fg. 2, the length of the arms being somewhat less thanthe .radius of the retort-is placed in the centre of the retort,.thearms resting on the ground, as seen in iig. 1. rIfheretort is then-lled' y with charcoal, and the lire kindled `on top.

Now, in the ordinary retort, the coal is apt to burn only around thecircumference, while the centre is untouched for a long time by the re;but by the use of the rod, a draught is created through the centre,which in ameasure overcomes the difficulty. l

After the fire has passed down vthe sides and along the bottom, I, bymeans of a pulley connected'with the ring e, or other device', raise therod entirely out of the retort, of course stirring and mixing the deadand live coal by the operation, and loosening thel whole mass, so as togive ,free exit tothe generated gas.

After it is sufficiently burned, I put on the cover, which 'rests on theshoulders c c', and seal the retort up in the usual manner to cool.

By the use of this apparatus, I claim I can more surely and 'rapidlyexpel the gas, and consequently make a better rectifying-coal than withthe old retort.;

I do not claim any originality in the construction of the retort; but

What I do claim as my invention, and desire tolse cure by LettersPatent, is.-

The combination, with the retort A, of a forked rod, U, or itsequivalent, when constructed and operatingsubstantially as and for thepurpose specified.

JAMES MCOANN;

Witnesses:

SAML S. BOYD, LEWIS MYERS.,

